Lord Nolan’s Seven Principles of Public Life: A Complete Guide

1.1 What scandal led to the Nolan Principles?

A newspaper story about MPs set it off. Two MPs, Neil Hamilton and Tim Smith, had been paid by Mohammed Al Fayed to ask questions in Parliament. Al Fayed then owned Harrods.

The affair became known as “cash for questions”. It caused Prime Minister John Major to set up the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

1.2 When and why was the committee set up?

It was set up in October 1994. Its job was to examine concerns about standards of conduct of all holders of public office. That included their financial and commercial arrangements.

Lord Nolan, a senior judge, chaired it. The first report came in 1995.

1.3 Why did this report matter so much?

It ended the “good chaps” model. That model assumed good people need no written ethical standards. After 1995 the standards were made explicit.

1.4 What is a common slip?

Students think the principles were first written in 1994. The committee began in 1994. The principles were published on 31 May 1995.

2.1 What does selflessness ask of an official?

It asks an official to put the public first. The current wording says holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

Our own example: a district officer chooses a school site by need, not because a relative owns the plot. That is selflessness.

2.2 What does integrity ask?

It asks officials to stay free of obligations. Under the current wording, an official must avoid any obligation to people or organisations that might try to influence them. An official must also not act to gain benefits for self, family or friends. Interests and relationships must be declared and resolved.

Our own example: an engineer accepts a free holiday from a contractor. Even if his decision stays fair, he is now under an obligation.

2.3 What does objectivity ask?

It asks for fair, evidence-based decisions. Officials must act impartially, fairly and on merit. They must use the best evidence and avoid discrimination or bias.

Our own example: a panel ranks bidders by published criteria and not by who they know.

2.4 What is a common slip?

Students mix selflessness and integrity. Selflessness is about whose interest you serve. Integrity is about obligations and conflicts of interest.

3.1 What does accountability ask?

It asks officials to answer to the public. They are accountable for their decisions and actions. They must submit to the scrutiny needed to ensure this.

Our own example: an official explains to an audit team why a contract was awarded.

3.2 What does openness ask?

It asks for decisions made in the open. The wording says act in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld unless there are clear and lawful reasons.

Secrecy is the exception, and it needs a lawful reason.

3.3 What does honesty ask today?

Today it asks one thing: be truthful. The current wording is a single sentence. Holders of public office should be truthful.

3.4 How are openness and honesty different?

Openness is about sharing information and decisions. Honesty is about telling the truth when you do speak. An official can be honest yet secretive. That official fails openness, not honesty.

4.1 Why is leadership different from the other six?

Leadership asks officials to spread the other six. The current wording says holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles.

They must also challenge poor behaviour.

4.2 What did the 2021 change add?

In 2021 the Committee put more stress on respect. The Leadership wording now says to treat others with respect.

Our own example: a senior officer who shouts at juniors in public breaks leadership, even if no money is involved.

4.3 What is a common slip?

Students call leadership a rank or job title. It is a duty of example that applies to every office-holder.

5.1 Did the wording of the principles change?

Yes. The seven names stayed the same. The short descriptions under them changed. The GOV.UK page says the descriptors were amended in the 14th report, Standards Matter, and in the 23rd report, Upholding Standards in Public Life.

5.2 What did the early wording say?

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) reprints the principles as the Nolan Committee first outlined them. A few lines differ from today’s wording.

The table is our own side-by-side of two quoted texts.

5.3 Why does this matter in an exam?

Older books and newer pages can give different answers. If a question says which principle covers family and friends, read the wording. The Second ARC reprint puts it under Selflessness. The current GOV.UK page puts it under Integrity.

6.1 Who do the principles cover?

They cover anyone who works as a public office-holder. That means people elected or appointed, nationally and locally. It includes the Civil Service, local government, the police, courts and probation services.

It also covers health, education, social and care services, and others delivering public services.

6.2 Are they a law?

The sources describe them as a framework. They are built into codes of conduct. By 2021, ministers, MPs, peers, civil servants, special advisers, councillors and board members were covered by codes based on them.

Our own reading: the principles guide the codes, and the codes carry the rules.

6.3 What did Lord Nolan add besides the seven?

He set out three supports, called golden threads. They are codes of conduct, independent scrutiny and education.

6.4 What is a common slip?

Students think the committee punished wrongdoers. It did not. The Committee is not a regulator and does not conduct investigations.

7.1 What replaced the old committee?

The Ethics and Integrity Commission did. It was launched on 13 October 2025, replacing the Committee on Standards in Public Life. Doug Chalmers, the last chair of the old committee, is the first chair of the new one.

7.2 What does the new body do?

It reports to the Prime Minister on ethical standards. It also advises public authorities on clear codes of conduct with effective oversight. The GOV.UK page names it as custodian of the Principles.

New duties include convening ethics and standards bodies and giving the Prime Minister an annual report on the health of the system.

7.3 Can it investigate cases?

No. Like the old committee, it is not a regulator. It has no remit to investigate individual cases. It is an advisory body sponsored by the Cabinet Office.

7.4 What is a common slip?

Students think the principles changed in 2025. The body changed. The principles continue.

8.1 Did Indian reformers use the Nolan Principles?

Yes. The Second ARC wrote a report called Ethics in Governance. It called the Nolan statement one of the most comprehensive statements of ethical standards for holders of public office.

It said a Code of Ethics for Ministers should also reflect the seven principles.

8.2 What rules bind Indian civil servants?

The Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 do. Rule 3(1) says every Government servant shall at all times maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty. He must also do nothing unbecoming of a Government servant.

The Second ARC notes that the Santhanam Committee recommended enlarging such rules, which led to the 1964 version.

8.3 Do the later clauses match the Nolan list?

Several do. Later clauses of Rule 3(1) add high ethical standards and honesty, political neutrality, merit, fairness and impartiality, and accountability and transparency.

The matching is our own reading of two texts.

8.4 What should the Second ARC’s view on law teach us?

It wanted Public Service Values stipulated by law. The Commission said so, as in Australia.

9.1 What did UPSC ask?

9.2 How should a case study use the principles?

Test the dilemma against each principle in turn. Name the principles in conflict. Then say which should win and why. This is our own method, not UPSC’s.